"I am predominantly a wood carver and have been for most of my sculpture career. Over time my sculptures have echoed many images, but have always resonated with the attributes of wood. Each sculpture is a sketch of a moment in time and space and the life of the tree."

I find Lin's work so elegant, the sculptures almost like three dimensional drawings, their shadows casting interesting additions to the work and finding my eye traveling the work as if I am reading a story. I'm so honored that Lin agreed to be my first interview and even more honored to get to show with her this month at the Chazan Gallery. Below I hope you find a little insight to her work and process and fall in love with the work as much as I have.

What drew you to the materials that you use?

I have been a wood carver for most of my sculpture career because I like the strength and durability of wood but also love the ability to change and "move" it. I believe in knowing how to do as many other sculptural techniques as possible, so I know how to weld, cast, forge, and work with stone, plaster, clay and bronze, but those just haven't resonated with me as strongly as wood has. I like the physicality of working with wood and generally am able to move it around by myself or at least not need any large machinery for that. It has the benefit of being pretty, ugly, natural, colored, smooth and rough too.

Can you describe your process? Techniques used?

I carve, construct and carve again. I do and undo. I use some lovely Swiss carving gouges that I have had for over 40 years and I also use an electric chain saw or a band saw when I need to.

Is there a technique that you've always wanted to learn or admire in other artists work?

I thought it would be cool to learn glass blowing, but one lesson made me realize how tremendously difficult (and expensive) it is!

What's the funniest/most memorable question or reaction you've gotten to or about your work?

I carved rope-like knots out of wood for several years and people kept asking me how I got the wood to tie like that.

What are you the most proud of in your artistic career? Why?

I guess I am proudest of the fact that I am still at it and have a decent studio practice.

Anything you've regretted doing in your art career? What did you learn from that experience?

I probably should have been more pushy if I wanted to get better coverage, but otherwise no real regrets.

Can you describe any rituals that you do if you're feeling stuck? Ways you find inspiration?

I look inward and outward. Sometimes it is nature, sometimes the figure, sometimes in response to the news. Ideas often come to me when I can't sleep at night or when I occasionally write in my studio journal.

Sometimes I see a piece of wood and know what to make with it. Otherwise I draw or make some functional thing until I know where to go with my work.

Favorite female artists?

If you could own one artwork by one of your favorite female artists, money not being an issue, what would it be?

Not sure, too many to pick from!

Do you have any upcoming shows/projects etc that you'd like to share?

I am having a solo show called "The Space Between' at the URI Main Art Gallery from February 27-April 1, 2017

Lastly, when did you know you wanted to be an artist?

My mother was always a sort of hobby artist and took courses at Cornell where I grew up. I was doing modern dance and not art in college and I hurt my hip and could not dance. I was at Cornell for a year when that happened so I took a sculpture class (with one of her friends and teachers, Victor Colby) instead of dance, and really enjoyed it. In the meantime I was also getting an English lit degree, so sculpture was definitely not a career I had thought of. I got my English degree from UC Santa Cruz (where I also took some sculpture classes) and then moved back to New England (first Amherst, MA and then Monmouth, ME) and learned to make pottery since I knew sculpture does not pay the bills (it still doesn't!). I had a pottery studio in Monmouth, Maine and carved wood sculpture on the side. I did not love all aspects of pottery enough to keep at it and decided then to go back to school for an MFA in sculpture. I love making things, but don't ever remember thinking "Oh, I want to be an artist." It just was part of a path I was on.